Racetrack game apparatus



Nov. 25, 1958 E. DORMOY RACETRACK GAME APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 15, 1957 I INVENTOR. ETIENNE DORMOY FIG 4 FIG Nov. 25, 1958 E. DORMOY RACETRACK GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 15, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN-TOR. ETIENNE DORMOY BY jliax 8 Max FIG FIG

IIIIHII I 'I ll 7 United States Patent RACETRACK GAME APPARATUS Etienne Dormoy, San Diego, Calif. Application January 15, 1957, Serial No. 634,340

. 4 Claims. (Cl. 27386) This invention relates generally to game apparatus and more particularly to a game apparatus simulating a racetrack with ambulant elements removably positioned thereon.

A primary object of this invention is to provide apparatus whereby a simulated race can be staged between ambulant elements having the apparent form of race horses, greyhounds, or other animate figures and wherein the action of the ambulant elements, although initiated manually, is not controlled manually to a great extent, since there is continuing operation of elements, during the race, after the apparatus has been set in motion. It is believed that in this feature the present invention is radically differentiated from all prior art devices of this general nature. When this feature is coupled, as it is in this invention, with provision for the players choice of racing media, hereinafter referred to as ambulant elements, the present apparatus is more enjoyable and interesting to use than any known prior art devices of this general character.

Another object of this invention is to provide novel means for achieving the continuing oscillation of a platform in the device so that the action thereof is prolonged.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a racetrack game apparatus wherein the speed of the competing ambulant elements will ordinarily be increased toward the end of the race, thus providing for greater enjoyment in use since it suggests the excitement which gradually mounts during the race.

A last object which will be mentioned specifically is to provide a racetrack game apparatus which is extremely sturdy in construction, economical to produce in quantity, completely safe to use, and which is ideally configured to facilitate packing and shipping.

With these objects definitely in view, together with other objects which will appear as this description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arangement of elements and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in the specification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the assembled game apparatus;

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the assembled apparatus, only one ambulant element being represented in this figure;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, diagrammatic view of the shank part of an ambulant element and portions of the elongated plate and platform elements, the last being represented in two positions and the shank of the ambulant element being also indicated in dash line in a second position and in chain line in a third position, indicating how the element is advanced when the platform is oscillated;

Figure 4 is a view, very similar to Figure 3, and showing the progressive positioning of the corresponding parts ice in the second embodiment of this invention which is illustrated in Figure 7;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the ambulatory elements and adjacent portions of the plate and platform members;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 66 in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of a modified embodiment of this invention wherein the platform is employed as a base for the apparatus; and

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 8-8 in Figure 7, and it will be understood that this figure also represents the structure of hinge means in embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar and identical elements and portions throughout the specification and throughout the different views in the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, this invention includes an elongated, substantially horizontal plate member 10 and a somewhat shorter, elongated substantially horizontal platform member 12. The body portion 14 of the plate member 10 is supported by terminal legs 16, and this body portion 14 is provided with a plurality of parallel slots 18 which extend throughout the major portion of the length of the body portion 14, the slots being vertical and of equal length, although handicap lines 20 may be provided at one end of the body portion 14 so that players may agree to impose certain distance handicaps on particular ambulant elements 22.

The plate and platform members are connected by hinge means 24. This hinge means is represented in detail in Figure 8. The hinge means includes an upper leaf 26 and a lower leaf 28. Screws 30 are employed to fasten the lower leaf 28 to the platform member 12, one of these screws 30 being inserted through an aperture 32 in the upper leaf 26 prior to the securement of the plate member 14 to this upper leaf. The screws 34, used to fasten the upper leaf to the plate element 14 are inserted through bores 36 extending through the platform member 12 and through registering apertures in the lower leaf 28. By this means of connection, the hinge means is properly mounted and the screws are completely hidden from view when the apparatus is in its normal position.

A coiled spring 38 is secured and compressed between a simple bracket 40 secured to the leg 16 remote from the hinge means 24 and a second bracket 42 secured to the end of the platform member 12 remote fro-1n the hinge means 24. However, the degree of compression of the spring 38 is extremely light and the platform member 12 is free to oscillate about the horizontal axis established by the hinge means 24, when the spring 38 is compressed and suddenly released by manual operation of the finger piece 44, this finger piece extending from one end of the bracket 42, through an aperture 46 indicated by dash line only in Figure 2. The aperture 46 may be cut-away portion of the leg 16, the critical feature being that the finger piece 44 must be accessible from the outside of the leg 16 remote from the hinge means 24, in order that a player may manipulate this finger piece 44.

Each of the ambulant elements 22 includes a lower portion :36 which may be considered the sharpened lower end as illustrated, and an upper portion which may be considered in the disclosed embodiment to consist in a clip 52 in the upper part of the shank 54 of the ambulant element. This clip is ordinarily constructed of metal and is inserted through the shank 54 with upturned portions 56 and an outwardly turned terminal wing portions 58. The outwardly turned wing portions 58 constitute the elements for engaging the upper surface of the plate member 14, at each side of the slot 18 wherein the ambulant element is located. If reference be now had to Figure 3, the theory of operation will be at once made clear, the line60 in this figure indicating the spacing of the lower and upper portions 50 and 52 of the ambulant element, while the line 62 indicates the minimum distance between the surfaces of the members 12 'and ldand the line 64 indicates the maximum distance between these surfaces, during the oscillation of the platforrn r nember 12. The shank 54 of the ambulant element is represented in full lines in inclined position, it being noteworthy that the spacing of the portions 50 and 52must always be slightly greater than the minimum distance between the surfaces of the members 12 and 14 as indicated by the line 62, with the result'that the ambulant element will be positionable in a forward leaning attitude, as clearly indicated in this figure, as well as in Figures 2, 5 and 7. When the platform member 12 moves to the dash line position, the shank 54 moves sothat the lower portion thereof is advanced a short distance to the position indicated in dash line at 66. When the platform element 12 rises, the shank of the ambulant element is moved to the position indicated in chain line at 68, it being remembered that the forward inclination of the ambulant element is depended upon to cause the same to consistently fall forward at each oscillation of the platform member 12.

Each ambulant element 22 has a transparent portion 70 and a figure 72, ordinarily that of a race horse, greyhound or the like, is painted or otherwise applied to this transparent portion 70 so that the illusion of the animated figure being free to move on the surface of the plate element 14 is achieved. It should be noted that the forward edge 74 of the outwardly extending terminal wing portions 58 will ordinarily be the only portion of the ambulant element contacting the upper surface of the plate member 14, and this forward edge 74 will be formed to prevent rearward slipping of the ambulant element on the downstroke of the platform member 12.

A second embodiment of this invention is represented in Figure 7, the plate member 76 in this embodiment requiring no legs such as those provided at 16 in the first mentioned embodiment, and the platform member 78 functioning as the base for the apparatus. Slots are provided in the plate member 76, corresponding exactly with the slots 18, and a coiled spring 82 is mounted in bores 84 and 86 provided in the ends of the members 76 and 78 remote from the hinge means 24, the last mentioned element being completely analogous to the hinge means already described. Of course, the bores 84 and 86 are aligned, and the plate member 76 is made to oscillate by the compression of the spring and the sudden release thereof, accomplish simply by pressing and suddenly releasing the plate member 76.

The ambulatory elements 22 are of very small weight relative to the vibrating member or 76 and do not materially interfere with or dampen the vibration of the members 10 or 76, with the result that the oscillatory vibration continues for several seconds after once being initiated.

The action of the apparatus in the form of the invention indicated in Figure 7 is similar to that of the prior described device, and is shown in some detail in Figure 4. If reference be had to that figure, it will first be noted that the spacing of the upper and lower portions 52 and 59 of the ambulant element shank is unchanged and is represented by the line 6h. The distance of the upper surface of the plate member 76 from the upper surface of the platform element 78 when the plate element is at its maximum height is indicated by the line 88, and when the plate element is depressed, the distance between these surfaces is that indicated at 90. The critical relationship of the links of these lines is the same as already mentioned above in that the distance between the upper and lower portions of the shank of the ambulant element must be slightly greater than the maximum distance 88 between the surfaces of the members 76 and 78,. so that the ambulant element will constantly lean for-- ward and so that it will be advanced when the plate element 76 oscillates.

A considerable number of ambulatory elements 22 will always be supplied and will be used selectively by the players. Minor ditferencesinconstruction and weight inthese elements considerably affect the speed at which they advance in play. For thisr'easo'n "players 506a choose. favorite elements. This feature also makes the use of the: handicap lines 20 highly entertaining.

Obviously, minor variation from the embodiments of this invention described above may be resorted to with out departure from the spirit and scope of this invention and the present disclosure is submitted as illustrative-v rather than limiting.

I claim:

I. A racing game apparatus comprising an elongated, substantially horizontal plate member having parallel vertical'sl-ots extending longitudinally thereof; a similarly elongated platform member extending in generally parallel relation beneath said plate member; hinge means: connecting a pair of adjacent'ends of said members for relative movement of the members about a horizontal axis; spring means operatively interposed between said members to vibrate one of said members about said. axis when said one member is suitably manipulated and released; and ambulatory elements in' said slots and having lower portions engaging said platform memberand upper portions engaging said plate member; said por tions being spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the maximum distance between the corresponding surfaces of said members engaged by said portions; all of said ambulatory elements being pivotally vibrated as a group by said onemember.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said hingemeans is connected to said one member adjacent one end thereof, and said spring means being engaged with said one member adjacent the other end thereof.

3. A racing game apparatus comprising an elongated, substantially horizontal plate member having parallel vertical slots extending longitudinally thereof; a similarly elongated platform' member extending in generally parallel relation beneath said plate member; hinge'means connecting a pair of adjacent ends of said members for pivotal movement of 'onemember relative to the other member about a horizontal axis; a spring connected to said members for pivotal vibration of said one member about said axis when said spring is stressed and suddenly released; and ambulatory elements in said slots and having lower portions engaging said platform member and upper portions engaging said plate member; said portions being spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the maximum distance between the corresponding surfaces of said members engaged by said portions; all of said ambulatory elements being pivotally vibrated as a group by said one member.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said surfaces are the upper surfaces of said members; said upper portions of said ambulatory elements extending transversely beyond the edges of the corresponding slots to engage the upper surface of said plate member; said ambulatory elements comprising transparent portions above said plate member whereon opaque figures are placed, whereby the illusion of said figures being unconnected with the remainder of the apparatus is achieved.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 669,943 Leigh Mar. 12, 1901 FOREIGN PATENTS 14,453 Great Britain 1899 

